ARGENTINA: WORKING WITH TIP ACTIVIST SUSANA TRIMARCO

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000359 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION G/TIP FOR FORSTRUM AND FLECK G/IWI FOR RECHKEMMER WHA/PPC FOR MILLER WHA/BSC FOR DRUCKER, FRIEDMAN, MOSS, AND SHOWELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB KCRM KWMN PHUM PREL SNAR SMIG KJUS ASEC AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: WORKING WITH TIP ACTIVIST SUSANA TRIMARCO REF: BUENOS AIRES 352 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Ambassador Wayne and other Embassy officials recently met with trafficking in persons (TIP) activist Susana Trimarco. During the meeting, Trimarco was informed that the U.S. Department of Defense's Southern Command had approved a $2500 grant to assist her anti-TIP Foundation's efforts to assist trafficking victims. The Ambassador also introduced her to Post's Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),explaining that ICE has the lead on USG efforts to fight human trafficking and can be used as a resource. (ICE has subsequently had several meetings with Trimarco to discuss leads in trafficking networks.) Trimarco briefed the Ambassador on her foundation's success in rescuing trafficking victims. She noted her foundation's close collaboration with the Gendarmerie and the Tucuman provincial police unit designed to investigate TIP crimes. Trimarco expressed appreciation for continued USG support for her efforts and invited the Embassy to participate in a TIP conference to be held in May. She also told the Ambassador that her foundation has applied for a G/TIP grant to replicate their experiences working with the Tucuman police unit in other provinces (Ref A). ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador has subsequently raised the need to pass anti-TIP legislation with Chief Cabinet Minister Alberto Fernandez, Justice and Security Minister Anibal Fernandez, and several legislators. Since the meeting, Poloff has also followed up with Trimarco to identify concrete items the SOUTHCOM grant can provide to furnish the foundation's victims assistance center that. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) On February 7, Ambassador Wayne met with trafficking in persons activist Susana Trimarco and her assistant Andrea Romero. The Ambassador began the meeting by introducing ICE Deputy Attach Santiago Luna, Jr. and Assistant Attach Doug R. Freeman and explained that ICE is the lead USG agency in the fight against human trafficking. He suggested that Trimarco and her staff consider the agency as a potential resource in their anti-TIP efforts, particularly for cases they may discover that have a U.S. link. (They have since met twice to develop and explore potential leads on trafficking networks.) ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador then introduced Military Group Commander Colonel Joe Napoli. Col. Napoli informed Trimarco that the U.S. Department of Defense's Southern Command approved a $2500 grant through its Minimal Cost Project program to assist the Foundation's efforts to assist trafficking victims. The Ambassador indicated that the Embassy's TIP officer would work with Trimarco and the Military Group to identify concrete items that the foundation needs to furnish a victims assistance center. ¶5. (SBU) Trimarco thanked the Ambassador for the USG's continued support of her efforts. She noted that her foundation was working with other NGOs to organize a TIP conference in May in Mar del Plata and invited the Embassy to participate. The Ambassador noted that Argentina's National Ombudsmans' office had organized a similar conference in September 2007, and that the Embassy helped to bring an ICE agent to give a presentation on USG efforts to fight human trafficking. He asked Trimarco to keep the Embassy informed on the conference and offer suggestions on how the Embassy can help. She thanked the Ambassador for his offer of assistance. ¶6. (SBU) Trimarco then briefed the Ambassador on her foundation's accomplishments since its inauguration in October 2007. She stated that her foundation has assisted local authorities in rescuing 78 victims who were either trafficked or at risk of being trafficked. The oldest victim rescued was a 40 year-old woman, she noted, adding that another victim, aged 30, had been rescued after seven years in captivity. She stated that her foundation has worked with the Gendarmerie (Argentina's Border Patrol) to successfully solve three cases, including the dismantling of an organized crime network involved in human, drug, and arms trafficking in Bajo Flores, Buenos Aires province. ¶7. (SBU) Trimarco praised Gendarmerie's efforts to investigate TIP crimes, including allegations of provincial police corruption. She also reported that her foundation works closely with Tucuman province's new special police unit for investigating crimes against sexual integrity. She told the Ambassador that her foundation has applied for a G/TIP grant to replicate their experiences working with the Tucuman police unit in other provinces (Ref A). However, she harshly criticized some elements of the Argentine Federal Police and some provincial police for dismissing potential TIP cases as simple "missing persons" cases, passing on false leads to family members searching for their missing children, or claiming that the missing persons left of their own volition. ¶8. (SBU) Finally, Trimarco noted that Argentine TV channel Telefe will begin to air a new soap opera, called "Vidas Robadas" ("Stolen Lives"),which is loosely based on her efforts to find her daughter who is believed to have been kidnapped and trafficked into the illicit sex trade. She indicated that she has served as a consultant for the show. ¶9. (SBU) Ambassador subsequently raised the need to pass anti-TIP legislation with Chief Cabinet Minister Alberto Fernandez, twice with Justice and Security Minister Anibal Fernandez and with several legislators. All said they expect the Senate version of pending TIP legislation to pass the Chamber of Deputies in the coming weeks. ¶10. (SBU) Poloff has maintained regular contact with Trimarco and the Foundation, offering guidance on other government agencies and NGOs that can assist her in her efforts to fight human trafficking. Poloff has also followed up with Trimarco to to identify concrete items the SOUTHCOM grant can provide to furnish the foundation's victim assistance center.